CLEVELAND — The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and the Mid-American Conference have been selected to host the 2015 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional, the NCAA announced today. Cleveland State University will serve as the event’s co-host. The event is scheduled for March 26 and 28, 2015 at Quicken Loans Arena and will produce a local economic impact of over $5 million.

“The Midwest Regional will be a truly exciting event that puts Cleveland in the national spotlight,” saidDavid Gilbert, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. “This event will bring thousands of visitors to Cleveland, showcase the city to sports fans across the country and infuse over $5 million into the local economy.”

The 2015 Division I Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional will bring four of the nation’s top collegiate basketball teams to Quicken Loans Arena to compete for a trip to the Final Four. The event will feature a doubleheader on Thursday, March 26 and the Regional Championship game on Saturday, March 28. The cities of Los Angeles, Houston and Syracuse, N.Y. will also host 2015 regionals.

“The award of the 2015 event is testimony to the faith and trust the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee has in the Mid-American Conference and in Cleveland,” said Jon Steinbrecher, Commissioner of the Mid-American Conference. “The MAC and its partners have always been committed to conducting first-class, fiscally responsible events. We look forward to hosting the Midwest Regionals in 2015 at The Q.”

“Quicken Loans Arena is proud to continue our tradition of hosting NCAA Tournament action and thankful for the great partnership we have with the Mid-American Conference, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and Cleveland State University that helps bring this world-class event to our community,” said Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena President Len Komoroski. “Together, we look forward to adding to the excitement that March Madness brings to downtown Cleveland every year with the Mid-American Conference tournament and now another special visit by the NCAA.”

This marks the fourth time the city of Cleveland has hosted a NCAA Division I men’s basketball postseason event. First and second round games were contested in Cleveland in 2000 and 2005, with second and third round games occurring in 2011.

“Cleveland State University is honored to work with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission to bring championship NCAA basketball to The Q,” said John Parry, Cleveland State University Director of Athletics.

This selection is the fourth NCAA postseason event to be awarded to Cleveland in the last two weeks. On November 1, the Sports Commission was awarded bids to host the 2014 Division II Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving National Championships, the 2014 Division II Wrestling National Championships and the 2014 Collegiate Bowling National Championship. These three events will account for over $1.2 million in economic activity. Cleveland is also a finalist for two additional NCAA national championship events.